High Street hopes
A DIRE warning to councillors not to "sit back and just watch" the decline of Epping's High Street has prompted an investigation into ways to safeguard its future.
HSR
23 Mar 2006
National News
The Budget - a missed opportunity
Yesterday, Gordon Brown delivered his tenth budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chancellor is trying to boost his image before, he hopes, taking over as Prime Minister, but more and more people are feeling let down by New Labour.
23 Mar 2006
Mental health bill a lost opportunity - Webb
Commenting on reports that the Government are to drop their Mental Health Bill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said:
23 Mar 2006
Terrorism Bill passes into Law as Conservatives give in
The Government has finally won its battle of wills with the House of Lords over proposals to outlaw the "glorification" of terrorism. In the sixth round of parliamentary "ping pong", peers yesterday rejected a Liberal Democrat amendment and accepted the government plans. Conservative spokesman Lord Kingsland asked Tory backbenchers to abstain this time because otherwise, he argued, the Government would use the Parliament Act to push through the Terrorism Bill, which would cause a nine month delay. Peers voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment to the bill omitting any reference to glorification by 172 votes to 60, majority 112. The bill will now become law.
23 Mar 2006
Brown's budget speech 'silence' on NHS criticised
Gordon Brown is facing criticism for not doing enough for the NHS in his Budget after a hospital announced job cuts - the fourth to do so in a week. On Wednesday the Royal Free Hospital in London said it was cutting 480 jobs and 100 beds in a bid to save £25m. Over 2,000 job cuts have been announced at UK hospitals in the past week.
23 Mar 2006
Dundee LibDems highlight internet banking scam concerns
Dundee Liberal Democrat City Councillors Helen Dick and Fraser Macpherson have today (Thursday 24th March) warned the Dundee public to be on their guard over internet banking scams, following attempts to access their own banking details.
23 Mar 2006